SHAH ALAM, 12 Nov 2009: All ulama and mufti must obtain the permission of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) before they can give religious talks or sermons in the state.

Jais director Datuk Muhammed Khusrin Munawi said he would not compromise on this matter as “the ruling is stipulated in the Selangor Islamic Administration Enactment 2003″.

He said everyone, including mufti and ulama, must obtain prior permission from Jais and inform it about the subject matter or knowledge they wished to impart to their audience.

“There is exemption on the conditions for certification for certain individuals to deliver talks or sermons in Selangor, but they too need prior permission from Jais.

“I don’t see any problem with this procedure. For example, Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria has sought Jais’s permission before to give a talk in Selangor.

“In simple language … if you want to enter someone’s home, you need to give salam, there must be courtesy and respect for the host and not simply enter the house,” he told reporters when met at the state assembly today.

On the exemption, Khusrin said it was only given to certain individuals such as ulama, state mufti, fatwa committee members, syariah court judges and registrars, and the minister or exco member in charge of Islamic religious affairs.

“However, they, too, are required to give a written notice and get Jais’s permission to deliver a religious talk or sermon.

“Freelance speakers do not get such exemption and must obtain authorisation from Jais to give religious talks,” he said.

One Response to “Mufti, ulama must obtain Jais permit”

Interesting, to the Jais director having a dialogue or preaching (werenâ€™t all of those present Muslims? I wonder if the session would be better described as informative/educational or just simply discourse on religion) in a private home with a number of friends can be part of Jais’s extended “house”. Does this mean we are going to need to apply for permit for weddings, religious functions, etc? Because you know la Ustaz, like any learned men/women, [we] tend to want to talk beyond the scope of the function. Otherwise, are we risking rendering our private space (temporarily into) public property?

I wonder, does Jais need to get permission before they enter a private home? Do they get a warrant from a separate body? For example from a judge? Is Jais and the state syariah court one and the same or are Islamic courts in Malaysia under the judiciary?

Back to my earlier question, does Jais need a warrant or are they empowered to enter and search a private house regardless of having a warrant or permission from the owner because after all, it is part of the larger Jais “home”? I understand that is the law but such reasoning blurs private and public space and takes away some of the liberties Muslims have in Malaysia.

Does this mean, unlike how other faiths are experienced in Malaysia, Muslims here cannot speak freely about their religion; they can only hear religious talks by authorised individuals; a loose tongue on the subject of Islam can land you in trouble with Jais; and suspected personal moral violations in one’s own privacy is grounds for violation of private space? Wow, and I thought the pre-emptive logic of the Bush era’s Patriot Act was bad!

So are all raids by the Islamic religious departments on private premises conducted courteously and with utmost respect for civility (i.e. no raise voices, no derisive comments, no forced entry, etc.)? If it is 100% with full respect and is courteous, syabas! After all the religious department officers ARE entering the houses of private citizens and should have the decency to conduct themselves courteously.